Lauding the new terminal in terms of having world class infrastructure, the President termed it as a very important achievement for the city, built at a cost of around Rs. 2400 crore. Kolkata is the gateway to not only the North-east India but holds immense potential with regard to the government's look-east-policy, he said.

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan, on this occasion, said the investment projection for India by the year 2020 is estimated at US dollar 120 billion. As the city would have a significant share of this, facilities such as the modernized airport were very important.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, addressing the inaugural session, said Indian aviation sector was poised for a boost and 336 million passengers would be added per annum for the next ten years. Hence, the Government was aiming to improve infrastructure and expansion of low cost airlines and increased cargo movement, he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee also attended the opening programme and thanked the Union Government for giving such a dream building to the city airport.

She requested that night-landing and take-off facilities be installed at Bagdogra and new airports be built at Coochbehar, Balurghat, Malda and in the Sunderbans for boosting the development of the State.

Ajit Singh and K N Srivastav, Secretary Civil Aviation, presented mementos to the President and other guests to mark the inaugural.